Simulation of steady distillation process accompanied with multiple chemical equilibrium reactions basing on transformed variables

The equations describing the steady state operation of distillation column with simultaneous equilibrium chemical reactions have been transformed into a new set of MESH equations by introducing transformed composition, flow r ate and enthalpy variables. The new set of equations are similar to equatio ns describing traditional non-reactive distillation, and it is general when one or several reactions occur and inert components are present. An algorithm combining relaxation method and modified Newton-Raphson method is proposed to solve the new equations, the relaxation method is used to e stimate initial values, while the modified Newton-Raphson method is used to set solution. The reactive distillation processes of MTBE synthesis with n -butane and the separation of meta- and para-xylene are simulated as numeri cal examples.